Victor of Kunštát and Poděbrady
Encyclopedia
Victor of Kunštát and Poděbrady (also: Viktorin of Poděbrady, Victor Boček of Poděbrady ,Victor Boček of Kunstadt and Poděbrady; Czech: Viktorín z Poděbrad, or Viktorín Boček z Kunštátu a Poděbrad; German: Viktorin von Podiebrad; born: 1403; died: 1 January 1427 in Pardubice
) was a Bohemian-Moravian nobleman and a member of the House of Poděbrady. He was supporter of the Hussites and father of the Bohemian King George of Poděbrady
.
and Anna Elisabeth of Leipa , a daughter of Henry of Leipa . He gave several of his sons the middle name of Boček, a name which many of his ancestors had had.
Victor was first mentioned in a document dated 1417 dealing with the inheritance of his father, who died in that year. Victor inherited the Bohemian lordships of Náchod
and Hummel
, and Litice Castle
, which became his headquarters and which was the reason he sometimes called himself Lord at Litice. He inherited his father's Moravian estates jointly with his older brother Boček III of Poděbrady
. His youngest brother Hynek
inherited Poděbrady Castle and the associated estate. The eldest brother, John, died during his father's lifetime, sometime between 1407 and 1409. Victor and Boček III fought several court cases about their Moravian possessions, among others with their distant relatives Gerald Puška of Kunštát and Smil of Kunštát at Bludov
.
Around 1420, Victor acquired the dominion of Pardubice
, which extended his eastern Bohemia possessions considerably. His brother Hynek died in 1426 during the battle of Nymburk
. After Hynek's death, Victor inherited his dominion of Poděbrady, and also Mydlovar Castle, which Hynek had taken illegally in 1425.
Like his brothers Victor supported the Hussites. In 1420 he participated in the siege of Vyšehrad
in part and joined the Orebites
. Early in 1422 he approached Jan Žižka
, and became his supporter and friend. For this reason Litice was besieged in 1421 by the armies of the princes and catholic nobles who sided with emperorSigismund
. After Žižka's death, Victor lead the Sirotčí
for a while, but then he sided with the more moderate citizens of Prague.
From his marriage with Anna of Wartenberg , he had three children:
Victor died on 1 January 1427 at his Pardubice Castle. Soon after his death, Jan Hlaváč of Ronov claimed both the castle and the eponymous estate.
Pardubice
Pardubice is the capital city of the Pardubice Region and lies on the river Elbe, 65 miles east of Prague. Pardubice has an antique centre square and old town, with many restaurants that stay open until late in the evening. There is an old Tower and a recently renovated Castle...
) was a Bohemian-Moravian nobleman and a member of the House of Poděbrady. He was supporter of the Hussites and father of the Bohemian King George of Poděbrady
George of Podebrady
George of Kunštát and Poděbrady , also known as Poděbrad or Podiebrad , was King of Bohemia...
.
Life
Victor was born into the noble Poděbrady family. His parents were Boček II of PoděbradyBoček II of Poděbrady
Boček II of Poděbrady may have been treasurer or even chief treasurer of Bohemia between 1377 and 1387. Between 1403 and 1408, he held the office of of Bohemia.- Life :It is not known when and where Boček II was born...
and Anna Elisabeth of Leipa , a daughter of Henry of Leipa . He gave several of his sons the middle name of Boček, a name which many of his ancestors had had.
Victor was first mentioned in a document dated 1417 dealing with the inheritance of his father, who died in that year. Victor inherited the Bohemian lordships of Náchod
Náchod
Náchod -History:Náchod was founded in 14th century by knight Hron of Načeradice, who founded a castle on a strategical place, where local trade road reaches the defile called Branka. The first written note dates back to 1254.-Castle:...
and Hummel
Lordship of Hummel
The Lordship of Hummel is a historic landscape in the western part of the former County of Glatz in Silesia.- The Hummel Castle :The focus of the Lordship of Hummel was Hummel Castle, located on a mountain above the valley of the Bystrzyca Dusznicka river, approximately 3 km west of Duszniki Zdrój...
, and Litice Castle
Litice Castle
Litice Castle is a castle 7 km west of Žamberk in the Ústí nad Orlicí District, in the Pardubice Region of the Czech Republic.-History:The steep slopes of the foothills of the Orlické hory gave the advantage of a strategic position to the gothic castles being founded there at the close of the...
, which became his headquarters and which was the reason he sometimes called himself Lord at Litice. He inherited his father's Moravian estates jointly with his older brother Boček III of Poděbrady
Boček III of Poděbrady
Boček III of Poděbrady was a Bohemian-Moravian nobleman and supporter of the Hussites.- Life :Boček III was a member of the noble Poděbrady family...
. His youngest brother Hynek
Hynek Boček of Poděbrady
Hynek Boček of Poděbrady was a Bohemian-Moravian nobleman and follower of the Hussites.- Life :...
inherited Poděbrady Castle and the associated estate. The eldest brother, John, died during his father's lifetime, sometime between 1407 and 1409. Victor and Boček III fought several court cases about their Moravian possessions, among others with their distant relatives Gerald Puška of Kunštát and Smil of Kunštát at Bludov
Bludov
Bludov is a spa village in the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic. The village is an important rail junction and crossroad. Bludov is named for the town's founder, Blud z Bludova.-History:...
.
Around 1420, Victor acquired the dominion of Pardubice
Pardubice
Pardubice is the capital city of the Pardubice Region and lies on the river Elbe, 65 miles east of Prague. Pardubice has an antique centre square and old town, with many restaurants that stay open until late in the evening. There is an old Tower and a recently renovated Castle...
, which extended his eastern Bohemia possessions considerably. His brother Hynek died in 1426 during the battle of Nymburk
Nymburk
Nymburk is a city in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic, located 45 km east of Prague on the Elbe River. It is also home to the Czech men's basketball team ČEZ Basketball Nymburk...
. After Hynek's death, Victor inherited his dominion of Poděbrady, and also Mydlovar Castle, which Hynek had taken illegally in 1425.
Like his brothers Victor supported the Hussites. In 1420 he participated in the siege of Vyšehrad
Vyšehrad
Vyšehrad is a castle located in the city of Prague, Czech Republic. It was probably built in the 10th century, on a hill over the Vltava River...
in part and joined the Orebites
Orebites
Orebites were followers of the Hussites in Eastern Bohemia. The founders took part in the procession on the Mount Oreb near Třebechovice pod Orebem. Later most of the noble supporters belonged to the East Bohemian church known as the Bohemian Brethren. The ideological founder of the Orebites...
. Early in 1422 he approached Jan Žižka
Jan Žižka
Jan Žižka z Trocnova a Kalicha , Czech general and Hussite leader, follower of Jan Hus, was born at small village Trocnov in Bohemia, into a gentried family. He was nicknamed "One-eyed Žižka"...
, and became his supporter and friend. For this reason Litice was besieged in 1421 by the armies of the princes and catholic nobles who sided with emperorSigismund
Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor
Sigismund of Luxemburg KG was King of Hungary, of Croatia from 1387 to 1437, of Bohemia from 1419, and Holy Roman Emperor for four years from 1433 until 1437, the last Emperor of the House of Luxemburg. He was also King of Italy from 1431, and of Germany from 1411...
. After Žižka's death, Victor lead the Sirotčí
Sirotčí
Sirotčí , was a radical wing of the followers of Hussites. The association, founded in 1423 consisted mostly of city nobles, who joined with Jan Zizka and joined the East Bohemian Hussites, the so-called Orebites. From 1428, they were led by the priest Andreas Prokop...
for a while, but then he sided with the more moderate citizens of Prague.
From his marriage with Anna of Wartenberg , he had three children:
- GeorgeGeorge of PodebradyGeorge of Kunštát and Poděbrady , also known as Poděbrad or Podiebrad , was King of Bohemia...
(1420–1471), who became King of Bohemia in 1458 - Alžběta (1422–1501), married Jindřich z Dubé a Lipé
- Markéta (1425–1476), married Bohuslav ze Žeberka a Plané
Victor died on 1 January 1427 at his Pardubice Castle. Soon after his death, Jan Hlaváč of Ronov claimed both the castle and the eponymous estate.